<p>There is obviously little to wonder about how well that system works. Tessane was not that great, and if there was an Exhibit Two needed, you might not have found any better than yesterday’s parody of a song. That “All About The Bass” was simply horrendous and on par with the talent of Anita. She might have presented the Barney song and she’d still be voted through. </p>
<p>And it will happen every week if the other singers do not offer better song choices and better … performances. It is really hard to find anyone in this group that might have made the final 12 in prior years. </p>
<p>This crop is just plain awful. And the fact that someone as Anita Antoinette went to zero chairs last year to be that high in the ITunes with a bad song speaks volumes about how low this season has fallen. The show is on a downwards spiral akin to X-Factor. </p>
<p>Xiggi, The “downward spiral” you’re referring to re. your Voice comparison to XFactor-- is that your opinion or trending based on ratings data? If the latter, where is the data that supports this? </p>
<p>Well, I strongly disagree with you, xiggi. I think that in fact his season’s crop is remarkable strong, which is the main reason it is difficult for anyone to stand out. So far, I’ve been somewhat stunned by the audience choices and saves.</p>
<p>Jshain, no data … just a personal opinion. I am not an analyst but an observer and listener. </p>
<p>As far as the downwards spiral, consider Team Blake as of tonight. Has it ever been weaker? Do you think someone like Anita would have made the final rounds in previous years? </p>
<p>There is nothing remarkable in this season, and not a single performer worth following. And I am quite certain that none of them will be remembered in 2015. </p>
<p>Again, that is a personal opinion. Pretty much like everyone here. </p>
<p>PS A quick googling of ratings seems to confirm my unschooled opinion. The Voice has been dropping in the ratings for the past two seasons. We will know n December, but I predict the lowest ever. </p>
<p>I am hopeful that some of the surprises involve Bryana and/or Reagan. I don’t want to see either one of them go home. Ditto for Jessie, Elyjuh, and both country boys. I’ve cooled on Taylor Phelan, who hasn’t been as strong since his blind audition, imo.</p>
<p>I wasn’t stunned by the audience saves…with one exception. Otherwise, having checked the itune sales…it was evident who was going to be saved. The coach saves were more surprising, but when I checked what seemed to me to be the MOST surprising, I realized the “saved” person had come in third in itune sales, well ahead of the other two. I suspect that when the coach is off camera, he’ll explain that to those he eliminated. </p>
<p>I actually think that’s a rational way to decide whom to save EXCEPT when your song choice threw somebody under the bus. </p>
<p>I think some of you are being a bit harsh on these musicians. This was the first week of live shows and the judges picked the songs, and your comments are as if they are being compared to musicians that toured in a professional show with the same band for a year, which is not the case here.</p>
<p>I think you will appreciate Anita more as you see what else she can do, and when Matt gets to choose his own songs you’ll be able to hear how consistently pure and clean his voice is. </p>
<p>I am glad Reagen was saved … She is talented so getting another week buys her the time she needs to settle in to how great she will be in her career.</p>
<p>Sugar may miss a note here or there when she gets too passionate, but I am impressed with her more every time I see her learn a new song. I think she is one to watch also as I think she will put on a great show.</p>
<p>I am happy too. I didn’t even know there was a show today, so I didn’t see it. I’m mostly pleased with the results. Not pleased about losing James David Carter, I don’t think Gwen ended up with the best team possible. Glad Matt and DaNica made it. Wonder if people just remembered earlier performances, or if there’s an older crowd watching.</p>
<p>Pharrell gives awesome pep talks. Thought Elyjuh did enough on Tueday to earn a spot. I’m going to miss that crazy upper range of his. Broadway awaits (maybe)…</p>
<p>Sugar Jones was my least favorite live performance. When I heard the judges’ praise, it seemed that I had heard a completely different performance. </p>
<p>She wasn’t my least favorite, though it had definitely had something off-putting about it. But there were moments when her voice had this pure and unique sound and in those brief seconds I could understand what all the gushing was about and I figured she was the one Pharrell was going to save. She is a work in progress that still needs a lot of coaching but it could be exciting to see in the next round if she can dazzle audiences the way she dazzles the judges. </p>
<p>My least favorite performance probably was Ryan Sill. Just blah. </p>
<p>Sugar’s daddy is Joe Pizzulo, who has worked with Janet Jackson and Sergio Mendes. I cannot help but think her pedigree got taken into consideration.</p>
<p>Sugar was the “most surprising” choice described in my post # 1848. Her song cracked the top 100–at the time I checked it, it was #99. The other 2 singers didn’t come close.</p>
<p>Personally, I would have picked Elijah Rene over her. I don’t think she was bad–just that Elijah was better. </p>
<p>While I think Gwen likes Ryan for some reason, I also think it could have been a calculated choice. I thought Bryanna was better–but she’d probably split the vote with Reagan…and maybe Jessie. </p>